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Digital and Non-Digital Solidarity between Older Parents and Their Middle-Aged Children: Associations with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Woosang Hwang

    (Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA)

  • Xiaoyu Fu

    (Department of Human Development and Family Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA)

  • Maria Teresa Brown

    (School of Social Work, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
    Aging Studies Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA)

  • Merril Silverstein

    (Department of Human Development and Family Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
    Aging Studies Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
    Department of Sociology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA)

Abstract

We incorporated intergenerational digital communication (frequency of texting, video call, and social media interaction) into the intergenerational solidarity paradigm and identified new types of intergenerational and digital solidarity with adult children among older parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we examined whether those types are associated with older parents’ mental health (depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, and self-esteem). We used the 2021/2022 wave of the Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG), and a sample of 519 older parents (mean age = 69 years). Latent class analysis identified four classes describing intergenerational and digital solidarity with adult children ( distant-but-digitally connected , tight-knit-traditional , detached , and ambivalent ). We found that older parents who had distant-but-digitally connected and tight-knit-traditional relationships with their adult children reported better mental health, compared to those who had detached and ambivalent relationships with their adult children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings suggest that intergenerational digital communication should be considered as a digital solidarity in intergenerational solidarity paradigm, which is useful for measuring multidimension of intergenerational relationships within family members during and after the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Woosang Hwang & Xiaoyu Fu & Maria Teresa Brown & Merril Silverstein, 2022. "Digital and Non-Digital Solidarity between Older Parents and Their Middle-Aged Children: Associations with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12560-:d:931380
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Merril Silverstein & Zhen Cong & Shuzhuo Li, 2006. "Intergenerational Transfers and Living Arrangements of Older People in Rural China: Consequences for Psychological Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(5), pages 256-266.
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    4. Siyun Peng & Adam R Roth, 2022. "Social Isolation and Loneliness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Adults Older Than 50," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(7), pages 185-190.
    5. Tom Emery, 2013. "Intergenerational transfers and European families: Does the number of siblings matter?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 29(10), pages 247-274.
    6. Bolck, Annabel & Croon, Marcel & Hagenaars, Jacques, 2004. "Estimating Latent Structure Models with Categorical Variables: One-Step Versus Three-Step Estimators," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 3-27, January.
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